Chapter 21

Who Invited These Guys?


On board USS Enterprise-E

Inside the Rift

Time Unknown

Captain Jean-Luc Picard was sitting still in his command chair, watching as the time waves passed over his ship on the video screen in front of him. He did not know what time it was, officially. Sure, the computer knew the official stardate, but having to jump from one universe, then back to his own, then back to the other one, and now jumping to a completely unknown one left him baffled. However, he was also very curious about all of this, and his sense of adventure was peaked.

His chief engineer, Commander Geordi LaForge, was monitoring the equipment that the Legendoran Genon had installed for the jumps. "Sir,it looks like we are coming out somewhere. Chronometric particles are steadily declining."

Picard nodded and looked over at his first officer, Commander Harry Kim. He was young, like Will Riker was so long ago when he first came onboard the old Enterprise-D at Farpoint Station oh so many years ago. However,Harry Kim also had priceless experience from his days aboard Voyager,which had been lost in the Delta Quadrant until it arrived seven years after being lost in Earth orbit. He went from ensign to lieutenant commander because of his record on that ship, and it wasn't long until he was commander and an executive officer.

LaForge looked over his console again, and turned towards Picard and said, "Looks like we're here, sir. Wherever here is." Picard stood up, tugged down on his uniform tunic, and commanded, "On screen".

Before them was a planet almost entirely of water, with the exception of a long island cutting across the ocean surface of the planet like stitching on a baseball. Kim saw something on his console, and, after scanning it, he said, "Sir, we're getting a message. It's from Starsha."

Picard stared at the screen, saying, "Put it on screen, commander."

The image of Starsha came up, and Picard was struck by her stunning beauty. It seemed a perfect fit: this planet and its monarch. She began to speak, and Picard had to concentrate due to her soft voice. "We have arrived at Iscandar. The coordinates to locate your ships in orbit are being sent to you on a separate channel. We are also sending you landing instructions for your shuttlecraft, as well as coordinates for our spaceport. We will be meeting in the Royal Palace in four hours."

The message ceased, and Picard turned to his exec, asking, "Where are we supposed to orbit the planet at?"

Kim looked up at Picard and was about to tell him when his tactical officer, Lieutenant Commander Lieu Chang, spoke up. "Sir, unidentified ships at course 180. Directly behind us. "

Picard hailed the Freedom and the image of her Captain, Twanissa Hudson, was on his screen. "Captain, we've picked up something on our scanners..."

"Same here, Captain. We're trying to make contact with them, but with no response. The President's been notified."

Chang spoke up again, "Sir, it's Wildstar from the Yamato, hailing us."

Picard turned to Chang and ordered him to add Wildstar to the conversation, and soon his image was beside that of Hudson. "Captain Picard, we believe we might know who these people are, but we're sending out fighters to be sure. I suggest that you continue onto Iscandar and we'll stay here and check this out."

President Garrison Hollifield showed up beside Hudson, and the two had a brief conversation as she brought him up to speed. A minute later, Hollifield said, "Good idea, Wildstar, we'll do it. Just keep contact with us as we head in. Freedom, Enterprise-E and Wildstar will slow their approaches and ready themselves to turn around and defend the fleet if necessary."

Freedom and Yamato signed out, and Picard looked back at his screen, which displayed the approaching ships. Kim came up beside him and said, "Sir, I think this could be trouble."

"Let's hope not, because we have more than our fare share of problems as it is, Commander.," replied Picard, with a worried expression on his face.

On board Yamato

Time unknown

Deslok had been only on Yamato once before, and it was safe to say his intentions were much more peaceful this time. He couldn't help but to be nervous, because of the past. However, he was shocked at the warm welcome he received from the crew. It had been a long journey to get to this moment, because it wasn't that long ago that Deslok was fighting the Earthers for their planet.

His chief aid, Talan, walked beside him as he strode onto the bridge of the Yamato. He could feel the eyes looking at him as he walked up to Derek Wildstar. Some of the looks were inquisitive, curious; while others were clearly accusatory and hostile. He knew that not everyone had forgiven him for his attempt to conquer Earth, even though his reasoning for it was to save his own people from the destruction of his own planet.

Wildstar saluted him, and Deslok returned the favor. "Deslok, it is good to see you again, but I wonder why you are here?"

Deslok nodded and replied, "Your government knew you were investigating the rift, and once you didn't come back, they asked us, since our fleet was nearby, to investigate. We came through to see where you were and we've wound up here. So I have no idea why we are here anymore than you do."

Wildstar had a thought, and turned to his communications officer, "Homer, contact Starsha and see if she knows anything about this." Homer complied and, moments later, Starsha's visage was on screen.

Starsha spoke right at the leader of the Gamilons, "Deslok, I didn't expect you here, but I asked the Legendorans to divert you here so I can ask for your help."

Deslok's expression was that of controlled confusion, clearly not knowing about this new ally. "Starsha, why are all these ships here? And who are the Legendora?"

Starsha said simply, "Come to Iscandar and I'll explain everything there. There is much for you to know." The signal ended and the two warriors were left scratching their heads.

Deslok looked at Wildstar, asking him the obvious question, "Wildstar, why is Iscandar here now, when we all know what happened when the Dark Nebulans tried to claim it after they destroyed my own homeworld?"

Wildstar looked at him and said, "I wish I knew, Deslok. This is as much a mystery to me as it is to you!"

Flashback
2201

Deslok had lost his homeworld when the Yamato was forced down onto it's underground surface in his mad attempt to destroy it in the sulfuric acid seas. His world was dying, and Deslok was desperate. His father's plan so long ago to relocate his people to Earth was almost complete, but the Earthers had resurrected an old battleship and somehow defeated most of the Gamilon fleet to get to Iscandar, only to find that the planet had a twin: Gamilon. Deslok's madness included using a massive tractor beam to drag the ship down onto the planet, and the ship landed in the sulfuric sea and was on the way to dissolving. He launched a full-out attack on the ship, thinking that this last, desperate act of the humans would be futile. It was almost a success.

Almost.

Yamato stayed submerged for as long as she could, until she found the right magma vein to use her wave motion gun on. The blast triggered a chain reaction, and the underground surface began to be destroyed by lava and earthquakes. Deslok's people were being quickly wiped out by the lava, and Yamato launched one last attack to take out his headquarters. One perfectly placed shot from the main guns, and the headquarters, which were attached to the underside of the main surface, slowly fell into the rushing lava below.

Somehow, Deslok had escaped with his fleet, and he tried one last time to stop them from getting back to Earth. It was an act of futility, as most of his people were dead. All that were left were those on outlying colonies and aboard his ships. Billions of Gamilons were dead, and he blamed Yamato for it. However, he knew deep down that it was his own doing.

When Yamato warped into their own solar system one last time, they seemed to be home free, but Deslok has secretly tracked them with his ship and came out of warp nearby. He rammed his ship into Yamato, and his crew boarded it, releasing a radioactive gas to kill the crew. It seemed at all was lost until someone's bravery came to save the day.

Nova knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she had no choice. She turned on the Cosmo-DNA as the radioactive gas reached her,overcoming her as the machine began to work. Soon enough, the machine counteracted the effects of the gas, and Deslok's people were driven off. Nova was hurt by being on the machine as it activated, and she almost lost her life from being exposed to the intense energy, but she pulled through and was there to see her homeworld saved from death by the machine.

Deslok, however, was not to be denied his revenge. He came across the Comet Empire as he began to leave the galaxy, and Emperor Zordar quickly made an alliance with him. Despite some political intrigue from Princess Invidia, he managed to get enough of his fleet together in an attempt to stop Wildstar's last attempt to save Earth.

It was almost too perfect: Deslok had managed to warp space mines nearby Yamato, surrounding the ship as well as placing a rather large one right in front of the ship's wave motion gun. His own version of it was powering up, and Deslok relished destroying his enemies once and for all. The countdown commenced and when it hit zero, Deslok himself pulled the trigger, and the massive outshot of energy raced out of his ship and towards Yamato. It hit the mines and seemingly hit his enemies, but moments later, Yamato appeared nearby his ship and soon rammed itself into his own ship.

They had executed a mini-warp to elude the beam, and once firmly crashed into Deslok's ship, the EDF Marines, as well as many of the crew, boarded the ship.

Deslok wasn't going to escape. He knew it. He waited for Wildstar to show up. He sent his aide Talan to lead the resistance, and Deslok remained alone on the bridge. If he had to go out, he would do so face to face with the man who beat him.

Wildstar had taken a flesh wound on his shoulder just as soon as he entered the ship, and somehow managed to make his way towards the bridge. Before he could confront Deslok, he ducked behind a corner as he saw Talan come back onto the bridge from another doorway.

"Leader Deslok! The engine has exploded and the fire is spreading to the reactor! We must abandon ship," cried Talan.

Deslok said smoothly, "Talan? Abandon ship?"

Talan mistook the intent of what was said, "Oh! I---I mean only temporarily, sir! Until they can put the fire out! We'll transfer to carrier one and you can command from there!"

When Deslok did not move, Talan appealed to him further to abandon ship, "Leader Deslok, you've won! The Star Force is helpless! The battle's over. There's no need to stay. Why won't you go?"

Deslok let out a sigh, then addressed Talan, "Yes...you're right, Talan. Let's go!"

Talan turned to go, saying, "Fine. Let's get out of...oh!"

Deslok turned as well, and he saw Wildstar, pointing his pistol at him.

Wildstar asked him, "Deslok, why are you fighting us now? Before, you had a reason. Gamilon was doomed...you needed a new home. We had to fight you...to protect Earth. But that's in the past...why go on fighting?"

Deslok cried out, "You of all people should understand it! A man who fights for his homeworld fights on, even when there is no hope! Isn't that what you're doing now? Your Earth has surrendered to the Comet Empire, yet the Star Force goes on fighting.

"Yes...that's what I've done. As long as I live, and fight, then Gamilon lives!" But he knew his time was at hand anyway.

Wildstar pleaded with him again, "But the fight between Gamilon and Earth is over! Why are you taking the side of the Comet Empire? They're not fighting for their own home...only for conquest, for power."

The words drove home for Deslok, but it was too late to do anything about it. He took out his pistol and said to Wildstar, "Oh, no. It's too late! Get ready!"

Deslok knew he wasn't going to fire his own pistol, and waited for Wildstar to shoot him. In what should have been his greatest victory, it was ashes to him. His homeworld was lost on his father's folly, and he knew he deserved to die. All he wanted now was for Wildstar to kill him.

But Wildstar's aim languished, and it was then that Deslok saw the growing redness on his shoulder. Wildstar had been wounded, but nevertheless came forth regardless to stop Deslok. Wildstar, to Deslok's amazed eyes, collapsed and fell to the ground.

"DEREK," a female voice cried out, and Nova ran to her fallen love. She saw Deslok, grabbed Wildstar's pistol, and pointed it at him. It was at that moment that revelation his Deslok like a hammer.

Nova turned to her love and cradled his head, whispering into his ear, "Derek...I'm here. It's all right. Don't worry, darling. We're together..."

Derek whispered out, "Oh, Nova...our dear Earth...what's to become of her?"

Deslok's arm fell to his waist, the pistol pointing at the deck. He clicked on the safety and holstered it, then turned and said to the two Humans, "Wildstar, I see now. Something I could never have let myself see. I thought I was different from everyone else...that my love for Gamilon was stronger and more noble than your love for Earth. The universe has always been a lonely place to me...always alone. All I had was my love of Gamilon. I fought long and hard to save Gamilon, thinking anything I did for her was right. Maybe I would do it again...but there has to be a better way of life.

Tears began to form in his eyes for the first time since he was a child. "Yes, I've seen it. The two of you...loving each other...and Earth, too. Love is the first casualty of war. Oh yes...I know. War does not allow us to be our better selves. To fight well, you must be hard...never doubting your leaders, never questioning.

"But some day, war has to end. NOW. Yes, we can make a new start today!" It was then that he thought of a way to help them beat the Comet Empire. "Remember how you defeated me at Gamilon? You sent missiles to our weakest spot...the bottom of the volcanoes. Underneath. Try it on the Comet Empire!" Derek, despite being seriously wounded, looked up at Deslok and gave him a look of understanding. He leaned down to Nova and extended a hand towards her, and she nervously shook it. He said,
tenderly, soberly, "Goodbye. I hope we meet again." With that, he and his fleet took their leave.

On Iscandar

Time Unknown

Garibaldi screamed at Wildstar, "You can't let him join us! Not after he almost laid your Earth to waste and took over it for himself and his race!"

Wildstar screamed back, "You don't know him Garibaldi like I do. He's a changed man, and he's here to help us!"

Garibaldi volleyed back, "The hell he is! I don't trust him as far as I could throw his whole fleet!"

Deslok let Wildstar handle his defense, noting the irony of his former enemy now jumping to his defense with such passion. It was in this moment that he knew that he had been right about his change of heart, and how wrong he had been before. He knew he would never be forgiven for the loss of so many Humans and Gamilons during their war, and the near extinction of their two races, but he had vowed on that day to help save life wherever he could, especially that of the Humans. They had given him a new chance at life, and it was a debt he could never repay.

Starsha finally got Garibaldi to calm down enough to explain why she had brought the Gamilons here, and Garibaldi, very reluctantly, took back his objections. The meeting went long into the night, but the consensus was reached that Deslok's forces could stay and join the fight.

Deslok ventured out that night and looked out upon the sea. Of all the people who could never forgive him for what he had done, he seemed to be at the top of the list.

"But one day, you'll be able to forgive yourself." a voice said.

Deslok turned, and it was the Legendoran Genon that stood behind him. He simply nodded and said, "How can I? After all I've done!"

Genon said, "Being in this fight to save us all is a start. You can never bring back those who've been lost, but saving others from being lost can help in your redemption, Deslok. One day, you'll see it and understand."

Tears returned to Deslok's eyes for the first time since that fateful day, "I hope so!"

Some material adapted from Starblazers comic #1 by Argo Press